Apparatus for cleaning liquid conduits



Oct. 29, 1935. H. M. ERDMANN APPARATUS POR CLEANING LIQUID CONDUITS rusaaan. i1. 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR HANS M. ERDMANN ATTORNEY S Oct.29, 1935. H. M. ERDMANN 2,018,952

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING LIQUID CONDUITS Filed Jan. 11, 1934 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR HANS M. ERDMANN An JJuwL ATTORNEY S PatentedOct. 29, 1935 APPARATUS FOR CLEANING LIQUID CONDUITE Hans M. Erdmann,Montclair, N. J., assigner Barona Inc. Bloomiield,N.J.,acorporati ofNew'Jersey to on application :muy 11, 19:4; serial No. 106,133

u claim. (etres-1s) This invention relates to an apparatus and processfor cleaning conduits or pipes through which liquids are conducted andwhich require yperiodical cleansing, and is useful particularly forcleaning coils through which beer iiows when drawn from a barrel out ofa tap. The object of the invention is to provide a substantiallyautomatic, compact device. simple of operation by unskilled help,readily attachable and detachable to conduits. foolproof and capable ofperforming its operations expeditiously without the loss of anyappreciable amount of cleaning material.

This application is in part a continuation of an earlier applicationfiled by me on August l5, 1933. with the same title and bearing SerialNo. 685,187.

In the drawings. Fig. l represents an elevation in perspective of a'device illustrating this invention attached to the taps and the coolingcoils or conduits of a beer drawing system;` Fig. 2 shows a verticalsection of the device attached to the taps of beer coils.

This invention is illustrated in connection 'with the taps of a beersystem merely for the purpose of illustration and it will be obviousthat the invention may be utilized in connection with other forms ofapparatus provided with coils, conduits or pipes which require cleansingfrom time to time by reason of contaminatio or soiling by the constantpe of liquids or iluids through such apparatus.

The bar I has the usual taps 2 and I attached thereto with which thecoils or conduits l and 5 are in communication and the ends 8 and I ofsuch conduits are adapted to be attached to the usual beer barrels 8 andA9. The bar is also provided with the usual water faucet I 0 connectedto the water service line'lor' and with the usual perforated drain boardi i which has a suitable sewer connection (not shown). y

The device as thus far described, constitutes the usual system fordrawing and serving beer and it is this type of system with which thisinvention is illustrated. It is necessary, when the beer system is to becleaned, to disconnect the tapping rods which enter the barrels shown indotted lines in Fig. l. at the screw threaded connection I2 and i3. Thethen freed ends i and 1 of the beer conduit are connected together bythe union Il. The conduits, before the members gand I are connectedtogether, are permitted to drain and after the connection is made, thesystein is then ready for connection with the cleaning apparatus of thisinvention for thorough cleaning of the inside of the coils and the tapsfor such a period of time as the attendant may consider necessary tothoroughly clean the system. The apparatus, after the connections aremade, operates automatically with considerable pressure and rapidity.

The apparatus. whichis shown in Fig. 1 cons nected to a beer drawingsystem, may be conveniently set upon the drain board of the bar. therebymaking the water service line and the beer taps readily accessible.

The receptacle it is primarily utilized as a l0 pressure reservoir forstoring up pressure, which pressure is utilised for moving the cleaningpreperation through the system. The reservoir Il is provided with a baseII and an opening I1 which is closedby the coverv Il, forced downwardlyl5 against the washer I B by turning the winged nuts 2l. Thisarrangement of securingx the cover insures an air-tight seal in ordertoinsure against the loss of pressure within the reservoir. The vbottomof the reservoir is provided with a wall 20 2|, thereby dividing thebottom of the reservoir into two compartments 22 and 22 located on eachside of the wall 2i and separated thereby. A receptaclel 2l preferablyin the form of a series of. copper coils 28 is connected with thereservoir. 26 The copper coils are preferably wound around the reservoiri8 to insure compactness, whereby the coils are protected somewhatagainst iniury. One end Il of the receptacle 2l is connected to thecontrol 21 and the other end 28 of the re- 80 ceptaole 2l is connectedto the nipple 29. Thel nipple 29 is provided with a bore 20 which borealso penetrates the wall of the reservoir, thereby establishingcommunication with the inside of the reservoir Il. A bali valve 8| ispositioned in 35 an enlargement in the bore 2t and is arranged to closeand open communication between the end of the receptacle 2l where it isconnected to the nipple 29 and the inside of the reservoir II. The endof the nipple 2s is connected with a 4 rubber tube 32 provided with theusual friction connecting member Il and the other end of the tubing 32provided with a friction connecting bulb 2|. The end 28 of thereceptacle 24 is connected to the conuml 21. which control/1s suitablyconnected byV detachable rubber hose 2B to the water faucet It of thewater service line i0', whereby water under pressure from the waterservice line lil' is admitted through the hose 28 and through the nipple37B to the interior of the 30 control 2l. The control is provided with avalve 31 carried by a rod 38 and adapted to seat itself upon the valveseat 39. The opposite end of the rod Il is provided with a valve openingelement preferably in the form of a head lll tting the 55 internal boreof the control 21. A coil spring 4I seated on the web 42 and bearingagainst the head 40 normally urges the head away from the web 42 andthereby normally places the valve 31 tightly against its seat 33. Thearea of the head 4II should be greater than the area of the valve 31 inorder to make possible the operations and functions hereinafterexplained. The control 21 is provided with an escape outlet 43 which isplaced in communication with the water service line when the valve 31 isopen. The control is provided with a short section of copper tubing 44forming a connection with the Ynipple 45 provided with a bore 46, whichbore 46 extends through the wall of the reservoir I5 to the interiorthereof. The nipple 45 like the nipple 29 is provided with rubber tubing41. i

The apparatus, after the union I4 has been placed in position, isconnected with the water service line I' which provides a source ofpressure to the control 21 and the two sections of hose 32 and 41 areconnected to the open beer taps 2 and 3. The bore 3D is shown connectedwith the beer tap 3 and the bore 46 with the beer tap 2 but the devicewill function just as thoroughly if these connections are reversed. Acleaning compound, either in the form of tablets, powder or liquid, asdesired, is placed in the compartment 22 and the cover IB of thereservoir secured in air-tight relation to the reservoir I5. At thistime. the beer system and the system of the apparatus is not chargedwith water and the apparatus is in condition for operation. The deviceis put into operation by opening the water faucet I3 which permits thepressure of the water service line to force water under pressure throughthe rubber connecting hose 35 into the control 21. At this moment thevalve 31 is closed thereby excluding the admission of water beyond thevalve 31. The water under pressure therefore iiows through the tubing 26and through the receptacle 24, here shown in the i'orm of a double bankof copper coils 25. and out of the copper coils through the end 23thereof into the bore 3Il of the nipple 29. The pressure of the waterwill seat the ball valve 3| and close the end of the bore 3|! againstthe admission of water into the reservoir I5. The water thus underpressure will pass through the tubing 32 through the beer tap 3. thebeer coils l and 3, the tap 2, the tubing 41, the bore 4B, into thereservoir I5. The water upon entering the reservoir will come in contactwith the cleansing preparation, whether in the form of powder, tabletsor liquid. and dilute the same. The water under pressure of the serviceline will rise in the reservoir I and build up air pressure in thereservoir I3 until the built-up pressure is suilicient to overcome theresistance of the spring 4I in the control 21., The spring 4I isspecially selected so that it will` be compressed when placed under apressure which is less than the service line pressure. When the pressurein the reservoir reaches a predetermined degree, such built-up pressureacts through the connecting tubing 44 against the top side of the head4l, compressing the spring 4I and unseating the valve 31. Thereupon. thepressure of the service line in the apparatus is relieved and water fromthe service line will pass through the valve opening 4B and escape outof the escape opening 43. The pressure in thereservoir IE will alsounseat the ball valve 3| and force the cleaning preparation through thebore 33 into the receptacle 24 leaving a pool in the compartment 22.When the pressure in the reservoir I 3 has expended its force, thepressure 'on the head 43 isrelieved and the spring 4I will again seatthe valve 31 on its seat 39 and thus close the control and interrupt theescape of water from the escape opening 43. The moment the valve 31closes. water under pressure from the service line will again ow 5through the tubing 26, forcing the cleaning preparation under pressureout of the receptacle 24 and the pressure thereof will again seat theball valve 3|, closing communication between the bore 3|! and thereservoir I5. The cleaning compound must therefore flow through the bore3l, through the tubing 32, into the beer system and ultimately againinto the reservoir I5. Pressure is again built up in the tank I5 by thecontinued pressure of water from the service line I0 until the pres- 15sure again is suiiiclent to force the head 4|I against the pressure ofthe spring 4I toward the opening 48, whereby the pressure is againrelieved and water escapes through the escape opening 43 and cleaningpreparation is again forced past the unseated ball valve 3| into thereceptacle 24. This cycle of operation Ais automatically repeated andthe attendant permits the apparatus to function for such a period oftime as he believes to be suillcient to thoroughly clean the entiresystem. After the apparatus is disconnected, the system may be flushedwith water in any suitable manner.

It has been found in practice that the volume of the reservoir.excluding the volume of the compartment 22, should not be more thantwice the volume of the receptacle 24 in order that there should be nosubstantial loss of cleaning preparaticn. The head 40 of the control 21preferably has a surface area twice that of the valve 31. It has alsobeen found that twenty pounds pressure 35 from the service line issuflicient to cause the apparatus to properly function. The normal waterservice pressure in many cities is thirty pounds and beer coil systemsare generally built to withstand pressure up to thirty pounds. If thewater 0 service pressure is great, in some cities it is as high as onehundred pounds, it is advisable to keep the pressure low by manipulationof the valve of the Water faucet III.

I have found that while the device will work 5 without `the compartment22, there is a definite advantage in utilizing this compartment in thatit initially provides a denite pool of cleaning preparation and an airspace above it. The excess water entering the pool through the bore 43 wspills over the wall 2l ailing the compartment 23 and the continuedintroduction of water, into the compartment 22. under pressure.compresses the air above the water level suiiicient ultimately to actupon the head 4I and opening the valve 31 55 and forcing cleaningpreparation into the receptacle 24.

It is obvious that if it is desired to clean a single coil. that thismay be done by attaching one of the hose connections 32 or 41 to thebeer tap and o the other hose connection to the end of the beer coilwhich enters the barrel.

The cleaning fluid moves through the system which is to be cleaned in acontinuous direction in contradistinction to a backward and forwardmovement. It has been found that there is an advantage in forming thereceptacle 24 in a series of coils or in the form of along tube made ofcopper or rubber as illustrated at 25, in that the cleaning fluid isretained in a somewhat definite order on its path to and througithe consm he cleaned and is thereby restrained from thoroughly mixing with freshwater.

I claim:

1. In a device for cleaning conduits. in combiunaticnasourceoipressurcadaptedtodeliveraVlllquidrnediurnunderpressure,apressurereservoir. a control. said sourceof presnlre having communication with said control, said control havingcommunication with said pressure reservoir, said control including avalve member. mean'storetainsaid valve memberinclosedpositicnwhenthepressureinthereservoirislessthan theprcssln'eatsaidsourceoi pressure whereby insaidreservoirisbuiltupandthecom trol isautomatically opened to relieve the pressure in said reservoir. saidcontrol automaticallyclosingunderinduenceoisaidrneanstoreestabllshpressureinsaidxeservoir.

:2. Inacleaningdeviceincombinatiomasource o! pressure adapted tocontinuously deliver a mediumunderpressure.apressure reservoinsaid'source oi premura andsaid pressure reservoir being in communication.means between said source o! pressure and said pressure reservoiradapted to' automatically interrupt corrlmunica-V tionhetween'thepressurer and said source or pressure; a receptacle, a valvebetween said pressure reservoir and' said receptacle. said valve beingadapted to open when pressure isbuiltupinsaidpressurereservoirandplacesaid pressure reservoir andreceptacle in communicati 3. In a device for cleaning conduits. incombination. a pressure reservoir. a source oi water pressure. anautomatically operated control, a valve adapted to automatically openand close said control having communication with said pressure reservoirand with said source o! water pressure. said valve automatically closingas pressureisbuiltupinsaidpressurereservoirand opening imder theinfluence oi said water pressure when mid pressure reaches apredetermined amount in the system.

4,. In combination. a liquid conducting system. a pressure reservoir,connection between said systemandsaidpressure reservoinasourceorpressure. a control, said control having connectionwithsaidpressurereservoirandwlthsaidsource oir pressure, said connectionbetween said source of pressure andsaid control being adapted to pass apressure medium, from said source oi pressure to said con l, and fromsaid control, to said pressure oir, whereby pressure is built up insaid' reservoir. a second connection between pressure reservoir and saidcontrol whereby said control is automatically operated to relieve tiiepressure in said pressure reservoir.

5. In a' device for cleaning conduits, in combination. a source oipressure, a pressure reservoir,

.-a control, a receptacle, communicatim connections-between said partsin the order named, a valve 'between said pressure reservoir and saidreoeutael'e, said control remaining inoperative when a medium. underpressure. i'roru saidsourcc of pressure, moves toward said pressurereservoir, mid valve closing the connection between said pressurereservoir andsaid receptacle while said mediumisbuildingup pressure insaidpressin'e reservoir. said control operating and tending to relievethe pressure in said pressure rervoir and said valve -openingcommunication between said pressure reservoir and said receptacle whenthe nressureinthepressurereservoirreaohesapredetermined amount. 1

8. In a device tor cleaning conduits, i1 combination, a source ofpressure adapted to deliver a medium under pressure, a control, apressure reservoir. connections between said source of pressure and saidcontrol and between said control andsaidpressurereservoinanescapeoutlethaving communication with said control. a vulveu opening havingcommunication with said escape outlet,avalve adaptedtocloaesaidopeningwhen saidmediumiromsaidsourceoipressurepasses g toward saidpressure reservoir. means connected with saidvalve and adapted to unseatsaid valve aspressureisbuiltupinsaidpressm'ereservolr.

'i'. Inacleaning devicein combination. asouroeVoipre'ssure,apresnir'ereservoinsnidsourceein) valve closing means. toopen the valve, when preezo sure in said pressure reservoir builds up aforce in excess of the valve closing means.l

B. In a cleaning 'device in combination, a source or pressure, apressure reservoir. Vsaid pressure reservoir and said source otlpressurebeing in 85 communication. compartments in said pressure reservoir, oneoi said compartments being adapted to hold a cleaning preparation, andthe other compartment communicating with the ilrst mentionedcompartment, a receptacle. said receptacle so and said communicatingcompartment being in communication, a valve between said communieatingcompartment and said receptacle, said source oi pressure being adaptedto conve! a p medium under pressure from said source of pres- $5 suretowards said reservoir to build up pressure in said reservoir. the valvebetween said communicating compartment and said receptacle being adaptedto open under the pressure built up in said pressure reservoir, andpermit the flow i0 of cleaning preparation lrom said reservoir into saidreceptacle.

9. In combination, a liquid conducting system adapted to be arranged forcleaning. a source oi pressure adapted to deliver a liquid under pres-45 sure, a cleaning apparatus, said cleaning apparatus including apressure reservoir. a receptacle.

a control, one portion of said liquid conducting system being connectedwith said receptacle and another portion of said liquid conducting gstemoo being connected with said reservoir.' said source of pressure havingcommunication with said control and with said receptacle through saidcontrol, said control comprising normally closed valvemeans. said valvemeans having connec- 6lV tion with said reservoir, whereby through saidcombination a liquid under pressure from said source of pressure buildsup air pressure in said pressure reservoir, which built up pressure whenin excessive atmospheric pressure opens said 69 valve means and bysaidliquid under pressure, said valve means when the pressure in saidpressure reservoir has expended its force closing and re-establishingcommunication between said source ot pressure and said receptacle. 0l10. A device according to claim2 in which the receptacle is in the formof a substantially narrow, continuous hollow body.

ll. A device according to claim 2 in which the receptacle is in the formof a coil wound outside l0 oi the reservoir.

l2. A device for cleaning conduits comprising a source of pressureadapted to deliver a liquid medium under pressure, a control connectedwith said source oi pressure. said control including a il movable memberand an escape valve, means to urge said movable member to close saidescape valve, a receptacle adapted to hold cleaning medium, the conduitto be cleaned having communication with said receptacle, said control,receptacle and the conduit to be cleaned being normally closed againstthe escape ot air from the system, said movable member and said escapevalve moving automatically when pressure in excess of atmosphericpressure is built up in the system, thereby opening said escape valveand relieving the pressure therein, said movable member and said escapevalve moving to closed position when the pressure in said reservoir isrelieved.

13. A. device for cleaning conduits comprising a source of pressureadapted to deliver a liquid medium under pressure, a control connectedwith said source of pressure, said control including a movable memberand an escape valve, means to urge said movable member to close saidescape valve, a receptacle adapted to hold cleaning me dium, the conduitto` be cleaned having communication with said receptacle, said escapevalve being initially closed and thereby closing the system against theescape of air and permitting the medium from said source of pressure tobuild up pressure in said system, said escape valve automaticallyopening under the force of pressure built up in said system andrelieving the pressure therein, said escape valve automatically movirgto closed position when pressure in said reservoir is relieved.

14. A device for cleaning conduits comprising a system normally closedagainst the escapeof air therefrom, said system consisting of a sourceof pressure adapted to deliver a liquid medium under pressure, a controlhaving communication with the source of pressure, said control includinga movable member and an escape valve, means to urge said movable memberto close said escape valve. a receptacle, said conduits havingcommunicationA with said receptacle, said receptacle being adapted tohold cleaning medium, said cleaning medium, while the escape valve isclosed, being adapted to move in said system under the inuence ot thesource or pressure, said source of pressure building up pressure withinthe system. said escape valve automatically openlng under iniiuence ofthe built-up pressure in the system and relieving the pressure therein,said escape valve automatically moving to 'closed position when pressurein said reservoir is relleved.

15. A device tor cleaning conduits comprising a source or pressureadapted to deliver a liquid medium under continuous pressure, areservoir adapted to receive a cleaning medium, a control havingconnection with said source o! pressure and said reservoir, said controlhaving an escape valve movable to open and closed positions, a a springadapted to urge said valve member to closed position, said liquidmedium. under continuous pressure, being adapted to automatically buildup pressure in said reservoir when the valve member is in closedposition, said valve lo member automatically moving to open positionunder the force of the built-up pressure of said liquid medium, saidvalve member being automatically urged to closed position under theinnuence ot said spring after the pressure in said 1s reservoir has beenrelieved.

16. In a device i'or cleaning conduits, a reservoir adapted to hold acleaning medium, a source o1' pressure adapted to deliver a liquidmedium under continuous pressure, means connected with 20 saidreservoirand adapted to be connected with the conduits to be cleaned, acontrol, means connected with said control and adapted to be connectedwith said source of pressure, a valve member associated with saidcontrol, said valve mem- 25 ber being adapted to automatically move toopen and closed positions, an outlet on one side of said valve memberhaving connection with said reservoir and adapted to permit said mediumunder pressuretopasstosaidreservoir,anlnletonthe au opposite side ofsaid valve member, said valve member being retained in closed positionwhile pressure is being built up`in said reservoir, and means connectedto said valve member and exposed through said inlet to the pressure ofsaid sa liquid medium to move said valve to open position when thepressure in the system reaches a predetermined degree.

1'1. In a device for cleaning conduits. a reservoir adapted to hold acleaning medium, a source 4u' of pressure adapted to deliver a liquidmedium under pressure, means connected with said reservoir and adaptedto be connected with said conduits to be cleaned, a control, saidcontrol having a chamber, a valve member, movable to open 45 and closedposition, and a valve seat, said chamber having commlmication with saidreservoir and with said source of pressure. said valve havingcommunication with the outer atmomherc, said valve being in closedposition while presure so is building up in said reservoir, meansassociated. withthevalveandundertheintluenceotsaid pressure medium. saidmeam moving said valve toopenpositionaspressureisbuiltupmthe system. IlHANS M. ERDMANN.

